E. Java villagers set fire to car of Amerada's contractor

An angry group of East Java villagers on Sunday set fire to a car owned by a contractor of US-based oil firm Amerada Hess, an executive of state oil and gas firm Pertamina told Petromindo.com.

The car belonged to PT Alico which had been conducting seismic survey in Ujung Pangkah production sharing contract (PSC) for Amerada Hess which operates the PSC, said L. Harjanto, spokesman of Pertamina?s production sharing management department.

?They set fire to Alico?s car because they were against Amerada?s activities in their area,? Harjanto said. He provided no details.

The incident took place in a Ujung Pangkah village shortly before a planned meeting between Amerada?s leaders and more than 100 local government and community leaders. Amerada had been scheduled to explain to them about its activities in the area.

Harjanto said Pertamina had initiated Sunday's meeting in which villagers opposing Amerada's activities could exchange views and ideas with others who support the activities.

Amerada and its partner, UK independent oil corporation Dana Petroleum Plc, are completing oil and gas exploration offshore and onshore Ujung Pangkah.

Amerada holds 76 percent working interest in Ujung Pangkah Psc, while Dana Petroleum and Gulf Indonesia Resources respectively hold 12 percent.

Aside from Ujung Pangkah, Amerada has working interest in other contract areas namely Jabung, Lematang and Jambi Merang in Sumatra. (godang)